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Sometimes it seems that life and I are not friends at all anymore, if ever we were.
It gets hard when things refuse to go right. When the money is gone and one is reduced to the kindness of others only to find there are few who wish to be kind because they don't particularly like me.
Many times I have considered people who have given up completely, and I have always said to myself that they should just have hung on a little longer. And yet I find that now I, too, consider the merits of giving up.
It's hard.
His voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, "yes once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven." This phrase, "yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken, as of what has been made, in order that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25-29 Revised Standard Version
Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. That's just the way it is. So what of faith? My faith?
It's hard to keep going. It's hard to endure. It's hard when one doesn't know what to do anymore.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20 Revised Standard Version
My scripture reading just a few minutes ago was Acts, chapter 27. In this chapter the Apostle Paul is being transported to Italy. The ship encounters a storm and all is lost - except the lives of the 276 people on board. They suffered without food fourteen days, fearful of their lives. An angel of God came to Paul to assure him all would be well. Many is the time I have wished God would send an angel to assure me.
But there is no need for the assurance of angels. God has given us the Holy Scriptures, and we must believe them or we will not believe an angel should one come.
Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." And he said, "No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent." But he said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead." Luke 16:29-31 New King James Version
So to endure is weariness. It is hard.
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The Just shall Live by faith." Romans 1:14-17 New King James Version
Showing posts with label Defining Moments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Defining Moments. Show all posts
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Having Done All - Stand
Sometimes it feels like the walls of life are closing in, like those torture chambers in which the ceiling continues to drop, or the walls keep squeezing together. It's just a matter of time.
It can be hard trying to live by faith. It can also be easy. Kind of depends on what's happening at the moment.
Well, at the moment nothing is going as I would like it. I suppose that is an exaggeration. What would be more correct to say is that of the things which matter most to me, some of the most important are going contrary to my desires.
Does that mean God has let me down? Some people think so. They think that if God does not grant them their prayer - as they prayed - then he has failed them. Yet these same people seldom see how they have failed God. I, on the other hand, see at least some of my failings. As Paul wrote, "I am chief of sinners".
How can God fail us? There is only one way. God must make a promise - and not come through. Regarding what is going on in my life, that has not occurred. The fact things are not happening as I wish does not mean God has failed me. He made no promises in these areas. Therefore, any expectations I have are of my own design - not God's. And God is not under any obligation to fulfill my expectations. Still, he just may. There is still time.
Chapters three and four of the Book of Daniel kind of speak to me right now. Either my insanity is about to be cured as I am delivered from the fiery furnace, or I will be destroyed in the fire.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 Revised Standard Version
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to assemble the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the privinces to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace." Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accosed the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live for ever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no heed to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."
Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god what will deliver you out of my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."
Daniel 3:1-18 Revised Standard Version
And with that, they prepared to die.
It can be hard trying to live by faith. It can also be easy. Kind of depends on what's happening at the moment.
Well, at the moment nothing is going as I would like it. I suppose that is an exaggeration. What would be more correct to say is that of the things which matter most to me, some of the most important are going contrary to my desires.
Does that mean God has let me down? Some people think so. They think that if God does not grant them their prayer - as they prayed - then he has failed them. Yet these same people seldom see how they have failed God. I, on the other hand, see at least some of my failings. As Paul wrote, "I am chief of sinners".
How can God fail us? There is only one way. God must make a promise - and not come through. Regarding what is going on in my life, that has not occurred. The fact things are not happening as I wish does not mean God has failed me. He made no promises in these areas. Therefore, any expectations I have are of my own design - not God's. And God is not under any obligation to fulfill my expectations. Still, he just may. There is still time.
Chapters three and four of the Book of Daniel kind of speak to me right now. Either my insanity is about to be cured as I am delivered from the fiery furnace, or I will be destroyed in the fire.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 Revised Standard Version
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to assemble the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the privinces to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace." Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accosed the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live for ever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no heed to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."
Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god what will deliver you out of my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."
Daniel 3:1-18 Revised Standard Version
And with that, they prepared to die.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Life as a Spectacle
I suppose at times I come across as some lousy know-it-all regarding my faith and what I believe. That's why I try to point out my own failings from time to time. To let others know I have "attained" something others have not. The truth is, I struggle as much as anyone. And sometimes it hurts my credibility. Take yesterday, for instance.
I've kept no secret about us having been told we must be out of our house in just over thirty days. This is a direct result of our own personal financial collapse. Not asking for pity. There are hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of others who have, or are going, through the same thing. It's what happens.
Perhaps one thing which does make a difference in my case is that I firmly believe God told me not to sell this house. To remain here until such time as He directs otherwise. Few (if any) people have believed this event in my life was anything more than some kind of emotional (or psychotic) experience, having nothing to do with the real God.
For some it's because they don't want to believe there really is a God. For if there is (and there is) it means they are accountable to a higher power, and they don't like that.
For others they are jealous, for they don't understand what I mean when I say "God told me not to sell this house." They get this idea it was some miraculous moment like Moses on the mountain. It was nothing like that. It was an epiphany. Suddenly, I just knew. I can't explain it any better than that.
Others don't want to believe it's real because they don't want to believe God interacts with us like that anymore. That was for the apostolic times, when the church began. There are no more miracles, or spiritual revelations, or anything like that. For if there are, then they feel they must be somehow inferior for not having experienced it themselves. But that's because they don't understand how and why God interacts with us. I am over fifty years old now, and what I have learned is that God virtually never acts in a manner in which there is no room for doubt.
Why?
Because God most often uses the things and people of this world to communicate and help us. When the Bible tells us that God is arranging our answers to prayer before we even ask it doesn't make the claim lightly. Some things he sets in motion years in advance, so when we pray for it, it's ready. And when that happens many wonder if God was involved at all. But God doesn't operate in a no room for doubt manner. He wants us to believe in him and trust him, so he always does things in a manner which the unbelieving can explain as having nothing to do with God.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God. And without faith is is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:5-6 Revised Standard Version
There are a variety of reasons why people do not believe what I experienced was real. I can't blame them. They weren't here. I was alone at the time. And I'm not exactly a stalwart of godliness.
But I believe it was real and have acted accordingly since.
Part of that "acting accordingly" has to do with what is going on now. We are down to two weeks before we are suppose to move. While kind of making myself ready to move, I cannot help but think like Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego. God is well able to deliver us from this situation, and if he means for us to remain in this house then something is going to happen soon to bring that about. If it happens it could be anything from a major miracle to something which was put into motion months or years ago. Or, maybe we will have to leave.
I don't know. God didn't tell me what the consequences of not selling the house would be. He just said, "Don't sell the house." So I didn't.
There is a cost to all of this. As I indicated above, I do not have a lot of credibilty with others as a result of my holding fast to what took place nearly seven years ago. Just yesterday, Spouse laughed at me and felt a need to apologize to our guests when I made mention of it.
But you see, it isn't about my credibility. And if we are evicted it proves less about God than it does about me. You see, I am weak and foolish, and that's as it ought to be.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth, but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:25-29 Revised Standard Version
I've kept no secret about us having been told we must be out of our house in just over thirty days. This is a direct result of our own personal financial collapse. Not asking for pity. There are hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of others who have, or are going, through the same thing. It's what happens.
Perhaps one thing which does make a difference in my case is that I firmly believe God told me not to sell this house. To remain here until such time as He directs otherwise. Few (if any) people have believed this event in my life was anything more than some kind of emotional (or psychotic) experience, having nothing to do with the real God.
For some it's because they don't want to believe there really is a God. For if there is (and there is) it means they are accountable to a higher power, and they don't like that.
For others they are jealous, for they don't understand what I mean when I say "God told me not to sell this house." They get this idea it was some miraculous moment like Moses on the mountain. It was nothing like that. It was an epiphany. Suddenly, I just knew. I can't explain it any better than that.
Others don't want to believe it's real because they don't want to believe God interacts with us like that anymore. That was for the apostolic times, when the church began. There are no more miracles, or spiritual revelations, or anything like that. For if there are, then they feel they must be somehow inferior for not having experienced it themselves. But that's because they don't understand how and why God interacts with us. I am over fifty years old now, and what I have learned is that God virtually never acts in a manner in which there is no room for doubt.
Why?
Because God most often uses the things and people of this world to communicate and help us. When the Bible tells us that God is arranging our answers to prayer before we even ask it doesn't make the claim lightly. Some things he sets in motion years in advance, so when we pray for it, it's ready. And when that happens many wonder if God was involved at all. But God doesn't operate in a no room for doubt manner. He wants us to believe in him and trust him, so he always does things in a manner which the unbelieving can explain as having nothing to do with God.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God. And without faith is is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:5-6 Revised Standard Version
There are a variety of reasons why people do not believe what I experienced was real. I can't blame them. They weren't here. I was alone at the time. And I'm not exactly a stalwart of godliness.
But I believe it was real and have acted accordingly since.
Part of that "acting accordingly" has to do with what is going on now. We are down to two weeks before we are suppose to move. While kind of making myself ready to move, I cannot help but think like Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego. God is well able to deliver us from this situation, and if he means for us to remain in this house then something is going to happen soon to bring that about. If it happens it could be anything from a major miracle to something which was put into motion months or years ago. Or, maybe we will have to leave.
I don't know. God didn't tell me what the consequences of not selling the house would be. He just said, "Don't sell the house." So I didn't.
There is a cost to all of this. As I indicated above, I do not have a lot of credibilty with others as a result of my holding fast to what took place nearly seven years ago. Just yesterday, Spouse laughed at me and felt a need to apologize to our guests when I made mention of it.
But you see, it isn't about my credibility. And if we are evicted it proves less about God than it does about me. You see, I am weak and foolish, and that's as it ought to be.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth, but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:25-29 Revised Standard Version
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Fearing to Live by Faith
One of the basic problems in trying to truly live a life of faith is dealing with fear. Not just the fear of being physically hurt, or humiliated, but the fear that we really don't believe as we think we do. Maybe, just maybe, when all is said and done, we don't really believe after all. Ultimately, that is what we're afraid of. And we don't like admitting it. Certainly not to others, but not ourselves, either. Not even to God.
We want to pretend that we believe so we don't have to actually find out. It's the person who believes in their talent, but won't push themselves to find out just how talented they are. That way, when they fail, they can comfort themselves by saying, "I wasn't really trying." People who are afraid of being rejected often make themselves unattractive, either physically or socially. That way, they need not be rejected for who they are. Not really.
I think part of our fear to live a life of faith is we don't understand what it means. We read verses like the following:
Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:23-24 Revised Standard Version
We read things like that and think that faith is the way to get the things we want. In a way. Probably, to be more precise, faith is the way to change what we want, and then we get it. Read this from the Book of James. Take note that this was written to believers, not as an effort to convert the unbelieving.
What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not received, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:1-4 Revised Standard Version
The Apostle Paul was certainly a man of faith. It's all he preached: Faith in Jesus. Faith in God. Yet read what Paul says about his life.
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me; you were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13 Revised Standard Version
Not all of Paul's prayers were answered according to his desire.
And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn ws given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:7-9a Revised Standard Version
Faith is trusting God to be in control even when everything goes wrong. We are sick and do not get well. We need work and cannot find any. We are in the path of war. Storms and famine ravage the land.
Faith does not mean these things will not touch us. We are physically in the world. Therefore, we will be physically touched by the things of the world. What the world cannot touch is our spirit. Only God can do that. And that is what faith is about: God touching our spirit.
At the beginning of Jesus' ministry he was led by God into the desert. He spent forty days there without food. Scripture confesses he was hungry. He was in a place where there were thousands of rounded stones which resembled bread loaves. Seeing them, the devil took the opportunity to cause Jesus to doubt himself.
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." Luke 4:3 Revised Standard Version
The operative word here is "if". Jesus was hungry, but suddenly that was no longer the reason for creating bread out of stones. Later, Jesus would create fish and bread out of nothing. (Read about the feeding of the four thousand and five thousand in Matthew 14 and Matthew 15.) So why not now? Because it wasn't about eating. It was about proving something. It was about pride. God is not keen on this kind of pride. Self-respect is one thing. Flat out pride is another. So Jesus gives his famous reply in verse 4.
And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'"
The quote is taken from the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter eight, verse three.
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
You see, this is what we're really afraid of: being put through something in order to teach us, help us, make us stronger, and bring us closer to God. The only way to do that is to deny the desires of the body and carnal will. In other words, suffering of some kind. That is what we're afraid of.
Faith is not about always coming through because you believed. It's about holding fast to God even when you don't come through. Do we love God because he's some kind of perpetual Santa Claus or Father Christmas? Or do we love him because of who he is? Think about Abraham.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises wsa ready to offer up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaaac shall your descendants be named." He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. Hebrews 11:17-19 Revised Standard Version
When people die, it does not mean God has taken them from us. God raises people from the dead. They are not gone. They are just ahead of us on a journey. We will be reunited. There is no cruelty. Loneliness, yes. But faith can help us through that.
One more example.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were given a choice: deny God and live, or hold to their faith and die. This was their answer.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in the matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18 Revised Standard Version
I think it important to point out that these three men were NOT counting on God to save their lives. They knew he could, but had no reason to believe he would. It didn't matter. It wasn't about whether they survived or died. Their faith was in God.
We all face challenges in our daily lives. Not all of these challenges deal with life and death, but sometimes they do. Most often, however, they are matters of fear and comfort.
This is true for me right now.
Seven years ago I was told by God (I believe this with all my heart) not to sell my house when I lost my high-paying job. For seven years we have remained in this house, each year being blessed with some last minute financial salvation to see us through another year. This year the miracles appear to have run out. We have just over thirty days to come up with about $300,000, or we're out of this house.
For some reason I am reminded of Nebuchadnezzar in that he was struck with insanity for seven years. Then he was restored. My seven years is just about up. But, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I will not quit believing even should not miracle come and I be kicked out. It isn't about surviving, or getting what we want, or expect. It's about God being in control. He is well able to send us the money. but even if not I will not cease to worship him. As Peter said to Jesus:
Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68b Revised Standard Version
We want to pretend that we believe so we don't have to actually find out. It's the person who believes in their talent, but won't push themselves to find out just how talented they are. That way, when they fail, they can comfort themselves by saying, "I wasn't really trying." People who are afraid of being rejected often make themselves unattractive, either physically or socially. That way, they need not be rejected for who they are. Not really.
I think part of our fear to live a life of faith is we don't understand what it means. We read verses like the following:
Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:23-24 Revised Standard Version
We read things like that and think that faith is the way to get the things we want. In a way. Probably, to be more precise, faith is the way to change what we want, and then we get it. Read this from the Book of James. Take note that this was written to believers, not as an effort to convert the unbelieving.
What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not received, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:1-4 Revised Standard Version
The Apostle Paul was certainly a man of faith. It's all he preached: Faith in Jesus. Faith in God. Yet read what Paul says about his life.
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me; you were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13 Revised Standard Version
Not all of Paul's prayers were answered according to his desire.
And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn ws given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:7-9a Revised Standard Version
Faith is trusting God to be in control even when everything goes wrong. We are sick and do not get well. We need work and cannot find any. We are in the path of war. Storms and famine ravage the land.
Faith does not mean these things will not touch us. We are physically in the world. Therefore, we will be physically touched by the things of the world. What the world cannot touch is our spirit. Only God can do that. And that is what faith is about: God touching our spirit.
At the beginning of Jesus' ministry he was led by God into the desert. He spent forty days there without food. Scripture confesses he was hungry. He was in a place where there were thousands of rounded stones which resembled bread loaves. Seeing them, the devil took the opportunity to cause Jesus to doubt himself.
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." Luke 4:3 Revised Standard Version
The operative word here is "if". Jesus was hungry, but suddenly that was no longer the reason for creating bread out of stones. Later, Jesus would create fish and bread out of nothing. (Read about the feeding of the four thousand and five thousand in Matthew 14 and Matthew 15.) So why not now? Because it wasn't about eating. It was about proving something. It was about pride. God is not keen on this kind of pride. Self-respect is one thing. Flat out pride is another. So Jesus gives his famous reply in verse 4.
And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'"
The quote is taken from the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter eight, verse three.
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
You see, this is what we're really afraid of: being put through something in order to teach us, help us, make us stronger, and bring us closer to God. The only way to do that is to deny the desires of the body and carnal will. In other words, suffering of some kind. That is what we're afraid of.
Faith is not about always coming through because you believed. It's about holding fast to God even when you don't come through. Do we love God because he's some kind of perpetual Santa Claus or Father Christmas? Or do we love him because of who he is? Think about Abraham.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises wsa ready to offer up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaaac shall your descendants be named." He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. Hebrews 11:17-19 Revised Standard Version
When people die, it does not mean God has taken them from us. God raises people from the dead. They are not gone. They are just ahead of us on a journey. We will be reunited. There is no cruelty. Loneliness, yes. But faith can help us through that.
One more example.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were given a choice: deny God and live, or hold to their faith and die. This was their answer.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in the matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18 Revised Standard Version
I think it important to point out that these three men were NOT counting on God to save their lives. They knew he could, but had no reason to believe he would. It didn't matter. It wasn't about whether they survived or died. Their faith was in God.
We all face challenges in our daily lives. Not all of these challenges deal with life and death, but sometimes they do. Most often, however, they are matters of fear and comfort.
This is true for me right now.
Seven years ago I was told by God (I believe this with all my heart) not to sell my house when I lost my high-paying job. For seven years we have remained in this house, each year being blessed with some last minute financial salvation to see us through another year. This year the miracles appear to have run out. We have just over thirty days to come up with about $300,000, or we're out of this house.
For some reason I am reminded of Nebuchadnezzar in that he was struck with insanity for seven years. Then he was restored. My seven years is just about up. But, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I will not quit believing even should not miracle come and I be kicked out. It isn't about surviving, or getting what we want, or expect. It's about God being in control. He is well able to send us the money. but even if not I will not cease to worship him. As Peter said to Jesus:
Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68b Revised Standard Version
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sometimes Faith Has a Price
Faith. When do we have it and when don't we? When do we trust God and when do we give up?
Of course, the simple answer is we always trust God and we never give up. But that is what we're supposed to say and do. How do we really behave?
The truth is, we trust God for our salvation, but when it comes to our daily lives we tend to exclude him. How often have you (I) stood and boldly declared our faith in God - when things were well, or we just received some blessing? Then, when things go dry, and emotions fail us for fear, we abandon faith and try to save ourselves?
It is normal to feel fear. It is normal to face doubts. The greatest born of women suffered his doubts and fears. But how did he handle it?
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no ofense at me." As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who sahall prepare thye way before thee.' Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Matthew 11:2-11 Revised Standard Version
"A reed shaken by the wind." What does that mean? I think it means John was not swayed by his emotions. He didn't just trust God when he felt like it. He trusted God when he had doubts, too. Especially when he had doubts and fear. He sent to Jesus when he had fear. Note Jesus' reply. Instead of just saying "yes", he quotes the Prophet Isaiah, using the verses which prove his being the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus began his ministry by quoting Isaiah.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Isaiah 61:1-2a Revised Standard Version
Jesus did not read the second part of verse two. That speaks of God's wrath and judgment, which is yet to come.
What is easy to do is proclaim we have received a message from God. Any fool can do that, whether God has sent them a message or not. What is hard is trusting in that message when everything seems to indicate that the message is not going to happen. That is hard whether God has sent the message or not.
I am in a place now where I am hard-pressed to find anyone who believes God sent me a message. Current indications are that he did not. Why? Because the message I believe God sent me was not to sell my house when I lost my job seven years ago. So I took it off the market. And for nearly seven years we have remained in this house, often by means which had nothing to do with us. Tax rebate checks from the government. An insurance check after a storm. A sister who borrowed money. During these seven years I have had nearly everyone tell me in one form or another that I was crazy to believe I had received a message from God and that I should sell the house before I lost it. My response has always been: God never said I wouldn't lose the house. He just said, "Don't sell it." So I'm not.
Our personal financial collapse happened at the end of August seven years ago. At the end of August this year we are slated to be kicked out of our house for not meeting financial obligations.
It has not always been easy to believe I got a real message from God. Well, that's not true. It has been easy to believe it. What has not been easy is believing God will take care of us. So many days and nights I vented angrily at God in the lowest level. I asked for signs. For miracles. For anything. What I got was silence. Then, at the last minute, things would happen and we would get another year. This occured for six years. Over the last two my rants have become few and further between. This year no miracle occured, and the foreclosure was processed. We are down to eight weeks.
I am still under pressure to give up believing God intends to take care of us. It's hard to resist. It would be easy to just give up believing. But I can't. I may be insane, and maybe I'm living a delusion, but I trust God. He told me not to sell the house. I can no more be convinced that was a lie than I can be convinced it did not rain this morning. (Thunderstormed, actually.) I believe God spoke to me, and I did not sell the house. And no matter what happens, I will still trust God. God has put himself on the line - using me. How can I do anything else but believe?
After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him. Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answerd him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:66-69 Revised Standard Version
Not everyone who trusts in faith gets what they are trusting for in this life. The book of Hebrews confirms this. In the faith chapter, immediately after telling of the wondrous miracles achieved through faith, we are told of those who got nothing.
Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God has forseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:35-39 Revised Standard Version
You see, what I have learned in the past seven years is that faith isn't about getting what we want, or even being cared for in comfort. Faith is about trusting God, even when horrible things happen. Because they do, you know. But God is still in control. God still loves us. That - you can put your faith in.
Amen.
Of course, the simple answer is we always trust God and we never give up. But that is what we're supposed to say and do. How do we really behave?
The truth is, we trust God for our salvation, but when it comes to our daily lives we tend to exclude him. How often have you (I) stood and boldly declared our faith in God - when things were well, or we just received some blessing? Then, when things go dry, and emotions fail us for fear, we abandon faith and try to save ourselves?
It is normal to feel fear. It is normal to face doubts. The greatest born of women suffered his doubts and fears. But how did he handle it?
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no ofense at me." As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who sahall prepare thye way before thee.' Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Matthew 11:2-11 Revised Standard Version
"A reed shaken by the wind." What does that mean? I think it means John was not swayed by his emotions. He didn't just trust God when he felt like it. He trusted God when he had doubts, too. Especially when he had doubts and fear. He sent to Jesus when he had fear. Note Jesus' reply. Instead of just saying "yes", he quotes the Prophet Isaiah, using the verses which prove his being the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus began his ministry by quoting Isaiah.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Isaiah 61:1-2a Revised Standard Version
Jesus did not read the second part of verse two. That speaks of God's wrath and judgment, which is yet to come.
What is easy to do is proclaim we have received a message from God. Any fool can do that, whether God has sent them a message or not. What is hard is trusting in that message when everything seems to indicate that the message is not going to happen. That is hard whether God has sent the message or not.
I am in a place now where I am hard-pressed to find anyone who believes God sent me a message. Current indications are that he did not. Why? Because the message I believe God sent me was not to sell my house when I lost my job seven years ago. So I took it off the market. And for nearly seven years we have remained in this house, often by means which had nothing to do with us. Tax rebate checks from the government. An insurance check after a storm. A sister who borrowed money. During these seven years I have had nearly everyone tell me in one form or another that I was crazy to believe I had received a message from God and that I should sell the house before I lost it. My response has always been: God never said I wouldn't lose the house. He just said, "Don't sell it." So I'm not.
Our personal financial collapse happened at the end of August seven years ago. At the end of August this year we are slated to be kicked out of our house for not meeting financial obligations.
It has not always been easy to believe I got a real message from God. Well, that's not true. It has been easy to believe it. What has not been easy is believing God will take care of us. So many days and nights I vented angrily at God in the lowest level. I asked for signs. For miracles. For anything. What I got was silence. Then, at the last minute, things would happen and we would get another year. This occured for six years. Over the last two my rants have become few and further between. This year no miracle occured, and the foreclosure was processed. We are down to eight weeks.
I am still under pressure to give up believing God intends to take care of us. It's hard to resist. It would be easy to just give up believing. But I can't. I may be insane, and maybe I'm living a delusion, but I trust God. He told me not to sell the house. I can no more be convinced that was a lie than I can be convinced it did not rain this morning. (Thunderstormed, actually.) I believe God spoke to me, and I did not sell the house. And no matter what happens, I will still trust God. God has put himself on the line - using me. How can I do anything else but believe?
After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him. Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answerd him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:66-69 Revised Standard Version
Not everyone who trusts in faith gets what they are trusting for in this life. The book of Hebrews confirms this. In the faith chapter, immediately after telling of the wondrous miracles achieved through faith, we are told of those who got nothing.
Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God has forseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:35-39 Revised Standard Version
You see, what I have learned in the past seven years is that faith isn't about getting what we want, or even being cared for in comfort. Faith is about trusting God, even when horrible things happen. Because they do, you know. But God is still in control. God still loves us. That - you can put your faith in.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Render Unto Caesar
Lawyers and judges always seem to be talking in double-talk. Perhaps that's why so many of them enter into politics. Politicians are always trying to say opposite things.
An historic ruling has just been made in California. Sarah Laurenson posted about it on her blog, Short Stuff. I don't even pretend to understand the legalese with which the California Supreme Court declared its ruling, but according to what Sarah says, the English translation is that gay and lesbian couples can be legally married in California. They just can't call it marriage.
While my reaction to the court is that it didn't have the guts to stand up for what it believed in, it is also possible the court doesn't believe in anything and so had nothing to stand up for.
But the GOOD news is that Sarah is still legally married. Well, no, that's not true. Sarah is still legally "wedded". She can't be married. Even though she is.
Like I said, I have trouble with legal double-talk. It's like listening to religious fanatics talk. They can take any sentence from anywhere and make it mean whatever they want. That's my opinion of lawyers, too. I don't have much faith in our judicial system anymore. But there's no other system which works better, so what do you do?
As long as people like Sarah and her spouse (we can still say that, can't we) are left alone to live their lives as they wish. They aren't out to hurt or defraud anybody. Leave them alone. I think that's what this ruling is saying. Stop harassing the innocent.
Those of you who are religiously conservative, I note that you spend a lot of time b*tching and moaning about gays and lesbians, but you haven't had a word to say about Wall Street Tycoons destroying the country with greed and avarice. You b*tch and moan because some Democrat politician supports some legislation which will take money from your pockets, descrying them as immoral and evil. But you never have anything to say about torture, civil rights, or any sins of the Republican Party.
You who seek to be ultra conservative live your lives in fear. That's what you're all about now. God told us about you. Predicted it thousands of years ago.
And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:25-26 New King James Version
Fear is the big motivator, isn't it? We're afraid of everyone and everything. Yet we claim to trust God. The truth is, if we really trusted God we wouldn't be nearly so afraid.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. but he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 New King James Version
When it comes to our faith, we need not fight. Jesus told us this.
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." John 18:36 New King James Version
Why do you wish to fight in the world over our faith? Jesus says the kingdom of our faith is not of the world, so the battle is not here. Stop fighting flesh and blood over your faith.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 New King James Version
Our battle is not with gay and lesbian people here on earth. They are just like us: human. They need God just like we need God. We need God just like they need God. But the only God we ever tell them about, show them through our behavior, is a God of hatred and intolerance. No wonder they want nothing to do with the God we talk about and demonstrate. I don't want anything to do with that thing either. Give me the real God. The God of love and forgiveness and acceptance.
It is said that one of the chief motivations for Judas Iscariot was impatience with Jesus for not bringing about the kingdom as Judas expected. Are we not guilty of the same sin when we attack gays and lesbians? Are we not the true sinners when we attack people for being in love? How anti-God can you get?
Partly I think we attack those who demonstrate our own sins. Look how often those who seek the demise of this person or that is secretly engaged in the same behavior?
Let us quit hating people and start living the lives that Christ told us to live. That he made possible for us to live by putting God's spirit into our hearts. Who did Jesus ever blast when he walked this earth? Religious hypocrites, that's who. He didn't even blast the Roman Empire. His word on that was, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21 New King James Version)
Caesar has said it is all right for Gays and Lesbians to be wedded. Let's put this foolishness of harrassing these people away now. We have much bigger and far more important battles to fight anyway. The real war rages in our hearts. With our own sinful natures. Let's not worry about what other people are doing. They're better people than us anyway. They at least love.
An historic ruling has just been made in California. Sarah Laurenson posted about it on her blog, Short Stuff. I don't even pretend to understand the legalese with which the California Supreme Court declared its ruling, but according to what Sarah says, the English translation is that gay and lesbian couples can be legally married in California. They just can't call it marriage.
While my reaction to the court is that it didn't have the guts to stand up for what it believed in, it is also possible the court doesn't believe in anything and so had nothing to stand up for.
But the GOOD news is that Sarah is still legally married. Well, no, that's not true. Sarah is still legally "wedded". She can't be married. Even though she is.
Like I said, I have trouble with legal double-talk. It's like listening to religious fanatics talk. They can take any sentence from anywhere and make it mean whatever they want. That's my opinion of lawyers, too. I don't have much faith in our judicial system anymore. But there's no other system which works better, so what do you do?
As long as people like Sarah and her spouse (we can still say that, can't we) are left alone to live their lives as they wish. They aren't out to hurt or defraud anybody. Leave them alone. I think that's what this ruling is saying. Stop harassing the innocent.
Those of you who are religiously conservative, I note that you spend a lot of time b*tching and moaning about gays and lesbians, but you haven't had a word to say about Wall Street Tycoons destroying the country with greed and avarice. You b*tch and moan because some Democrat politician supports some legislation which will take money from your pockets, descrying them as immoral and evil. But you never have anything to say about torture, civil rights, or any sins of the Republican Party.
You who seek to be ultra conservative live your lives in fear. That's what you're all about now. God told us about you. Predicted it thousands of years ago.
And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:25-26 New King James Version
Fear is the big motivator, isn't it? We're afraid of everyone and everything. Yet we claim to trust God. The truth is, if we really trusted God we wouldn't be nearly so afraid.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. but he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 New King James Version
When it comes to our faith, we need not fight. Jesus told us this.
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." John 18:36 New King James Version
Why do you wish to fight in the world over our faith? Jesus says the kingdom of our faith is not of the world, so the battle is not here. Stop fighting flesh and blood over your faith.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 New King James Version
Our battle is not with gay and lesbian people here on earth. They are just like us: human. They need God just like we need God. We need God just like they need God. But the only God we ever tell them about, show them through our behavior, is a God of hatred and intolerance. No wonder they want nothing to do with the God we talk about and demonstrate. I don't want anything to do with that thing either. Give me the real God. The God of love and forgiveness and acceptance.
It is said that one of the chief motivations for Judas Iscariot was impatience with Jesus for not bringing about the kingdom as Judas expected. Are we not guilty of the same sin when we attack gays and lesbians? Are we not the true sinners when we attack people for being in love? How anti-God can you get?
Partly I think we attack those who demonstrate our own sins. Look how often those who seek the demise of this person or that is secretly engaged in the same behavior?
Let us quit hating people and start living the lives that Christ told us to live. That he made possible for us to live by putting God's spirit into our hearts. Who did Jesus ever blast when he walked this earth? Religious hypocrites, that's who. He didn't even blast the Roman Empire. His word on that was, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21 New King James Version)
Caesar has said it is all right for Gays and Lesbians to be wedded. Let's put this foolishness of harrassing these people away now. We have much bigger and far more important battles to fight anyway. The real war rages in our hearts. With our own sinful natures. Let's not worry about what other people are doing. They're better people than us anyway. They at least love.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Where are You Beautiful
I subscribe on YouTube to the communitychannel. That's where I watch videos posted by a young woman named Natalie from Australia. What I like about her films is the way she takes everyday things and expands them to show us how funny we all are.
This particular video is about another group of people who deserve to have someone look out for them. I happen to belong to this group. "Ugly" people.
She did this to be funny, but I kind of think she was also making a point. She has two comments which I find so revealing about our societies:
"There's something really surprising about someone ugly being able to do anything."
"You sound like an attractive person."
Isn't that often how we tend to look at people? "Attractive" people get listened to. They get promotions. They get all kinds of things "ugly" people don't get. And yet, are they attractive?
Some are. Incredibly, there are many people who have the physical attributes to qualify them as "attractive" and are still attractive people. By that I mean nice. Loving. Caring. Too often, though, they tend to be a bit arrogant.
I recently told someone that one of the sexiest women I ever met was over one hundred pounds overweight. But she was such a dear. She would go out of her way to help even people she didn't like. She was sensitive, caring, and totally loving. And yet people made fun of her because of her weight. More than once I had to close our office door while she cried because some insensitive clod had made fun of her appearance. Personally, I found her to be quite sexy.
The other day while driving to an appointment with my heart doctor I was listening to the radio. The DJs were interviewing a woman who specialized in relationship training for lesbians. After the interview concluded the male DJs began making fun of the women who availed themselves of the new law in Iowa which allows them to marry women. They made several snide remarks about how "ugly" the women were. I very much doubt the women found each other "ugly" at all.
And do you know something else? I'm finding that I look less at the "shell" people are wearing when I first meet them now. So many people are so beautiful inside a shell which dares us to look for them. My shell is not exactly something people fall over to look at, so I suppose it's only natural that I take this attitude. But I think we need to start seeing people as God sees them, and not as humans do. The eyes of our body don't see nearly so well as the Spirit of God. Let's let Him guide our vision. Okay?
Where are you beautiful? Outside but not inside? Inside by not outside? Both? Neither? If you're not pretty on the inside, go talk to God. He can - and will - change that for you.
This particular video is about another group of people who deserve to have someone look out for them. I happen to belong to this group. "Ugly" people.
She did this to be funny, but I kind of think she was also making a point. She has two comments which I find so revealing about our societies:
"There's something really surprising about someone ugly being able to do anything."
"You sound like an attractive person."
Isn't that often how we tend to look at people? "Attractive" people get listened to. They get promotions. They get all kinds of things "ugly" people don't get. And yet, are they attractive?
Some are. Incredibly, there are many people who have the physical attributes to qualify them as "attractive" and are still attractive people. By that I mean nice. Loving. Caring. Too often, though, they tend to be a bit arrogant.
I recently told someone that one of the sexiest women I ever met was over one hundred pounds overweight. But she was such a dear. She would go out of her way to help even people she didn't like. She was sensitive, caring, and totally loving. And yet people made fun of her because of her weight. More than once I had to close our office door while she cried because some insensitive clod had made fun of her appearance. Personally, I found her to be quite sexy.
The other day while driving to an appointment with my heart doctor I was listening to the radio. The DJs were interviewing a woman who specialized in relationship training for lesbians. After the interview concluded the male DJs began making fun of the women who availed themselves of the new law in Iowa which allows them to marry women. They made several snide remarks about how "ugly" the women were. I very much doubt the women found each other "ugly" at all.
And do you know something else? I'm finding that I look less at the "shell" people are wearing when I first meet them now. So many people are so beautiful inside a shell which dares us to look for them. My shell is not exactly something people fall over to look at, so I suppose it's only natural that I take this attitude. But I think we need to start seeing people as God sees them, and not as humans do. The eyes of our body don't see nearly so well as the Spirit of God. Let's let Him guide our vision. Okay?
Where are you beautiful? Outside but not inside? Inside by not outside? Both? Neither? If you're not pretty on the inside, go talk to God. He can - and will - change that for you.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
So How Do You Wish to be Treated
So many of us struggle with what is right and what is wrong. What is God's will in this situation? We know someone is committing sin. What do we do? What should be our attitude toward them? What does God say?
Believe it or not, the answer is actually quite simple, and God gives us the answer in plain words. And when you consider God, and what we know and understand about him, it makes such perfect sense.
Luke (chapter 10) New King James Version
[25] And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
[26] He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"
[27] So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"
[28] And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."
Of course, the lawyer then seeks a way out of this by asking who is neighbor is. Jesus then tells the story of the Good Samaritan.
Since God has placed us in a such a small place in the universe He considered us all to be neighbors. This is true. Do we not tend to view people in other towns and villages as a single entity? They are neighbors, despite the fact that many of them never meet each other. To us, this planet Earth is a large thing. But in consideration of the vast universe, it's hardly a street in a suburb. We are neighbors.
So. Back to our original questions.
We know someone is committing sin. What do we do? What should be our attitude toward them? What does God say?
Well, God says we are all neighbors. Even those on the complete opposite side of this planet. Even those who hate us and want to kill us. We are neighbors.
Next. What should be our attitude toward them? Well, what would we want their attitude to be toward us were our positions reversed? Be honest. For this reason:
Matthew (chapter 7) New King James Version
[1] "Judge not, that you be not judged.
[2] For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
Finally, what should we do? Again, what would we want others to do were our positions reversed? And answer intelligently. Would you really want them to encourage you in your sin? Would you want them to help you guarantee eternal separation from God? If so, then that's what you do. If not, then look for ways to encourage them to cease sinning. But be careful. God, himself, allows freedom of choice. Don't take that from people unless what they are doing is endangering lives.
It's easy for me to write all of this. It's easy for me to say. The truth is, it's not always easy to follow this practice. That does not excuse the not following, but it is difficult sometimes. It comes down to this: What's important to you? God? Love? If so, then look to God and love when making these decisions. That's all I'm saying.
Believe it or not, the answer is actually quite simple, and God gives us the answer in plain words. And when you consider God, and what we know and understand about him, it makes such perfect sense.
Luke (chapter 10) New King James Version
[25] And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
[26] He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"
[27] So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"
[28] And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."
Of course, the lawyer then seeks a way out of this by asking who is neighbor is. Jesus then tells the story of the Good Samaritan.
Since God has placed us in a such a small place in the universe He considered us all to be neighbors. This is true. Do we not tend to view people in other towns and villages as a single entity? They are neighbors, despite the fact that many of them never meet each other. To us, this planet Earth is a large thing. But in consideration of the vast universe, it's hardly a street in a suburb. We are neighbors.
So. Back to our original questions.
We know someone is committing sin. What do we do? What should be our attitude toward them? What does God say?
Well, God says we are all neighbors. Even those on the complete opposite side of this planet. Even those who hate us and want to kill us. We are neighbors.
Next. What should be our attitude toward them? Well, what would we want their attitude to be toward us were our positions reversed? Be honest. For this reason:
Matthew (chapter 7) New King James Version
[1] "Judge not, that you be not judged.
[2] For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
Finally, what should we do? Again, what would we want others to do were our positions reversed? And answer intelligently. Would you really want them to encourage you in your sin? Would you want them to help you guarantee eternal separation from God? If so, then that's what you do. If not, then look for ways to encourage them to cease sinning. But be careful. God, himself, allows freedom of choice. Don't take that from people unless what they are doing is endangering lives.
It's easy for me to write all of this. It's easy for me to say. The truth is, it's not always easy to follow this practice. That does not excuse the not following, but it is difficult sometimes. It comes down to this: What's important to you? God? Love? If so, then look to God and love when making these decisions. That's all I'm saying.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Picking Up the Fallen Flag of Inspiration
Unfortunately, I am hardly the one to be doing this. I am neither a woman nor a confessor of the Muslim faith. I am an old, fat, Christian male.
But the flag has been set down for a time, leaving a gap in the voice for decency and equality regarding the treatment of women. Muslim women have become the standard-bearers for the cause, but the truth is it is a world-wide problem in all cultures no matter the religion involved and whether religion is involved.
A great and wonderful voice is silent today because of the energy spent keeping this cause aloud, alive, and above the horizon where it can be seen. I will endeavor to carry on the cause until she recovers and returns to wave the flag - much higher and with greater inspiration than I can ever hope to. I do this for you, J. And for the cause which is right.
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how to go about this. I have hitherto been lazy, and I've allowed J to work the front lines and face the turmoil and find the articles and pass on the word. Like all followers, I am hardly worthy of the one I follow. So I did a quick search on Google: Women in Islam.
My goal was to try and tap into current events in the Islamic world as they relate to women. The first result was a website called, "Women in Islam". I copied it to my sidebar as a Website of Note. There were several links and I chose to begin with "Women's Rights in Islam". J has taught me that women typically have more rights in Islam (according to the pure interpretation of the Quran) than most anywhere else. But, as has happened in Judaism, Christianity, and who knows how many other places, certain men, for a variety of reasons, have hijacked interpretation and created the hardship which prevails in current understanding.
The first article I read was by Arzu Merali, titled, "They Hate Women, Don't They".
I like the article because it reinforces the truth that we in the west "just don't get it". We're premeditatedly stupid when it comes to other cultures, and blind as bats when it comes to our own.
A couple of excerpts from Ms. Merali's article:
While the gap between Muslims and the west is widening the most striking feature of each other's critiques of their treatment of women is the lack of dissimilarity. Violence, workplace discrimination, educational opportunity and a desire for basic respect from men are universal issues.
Whether we are western, Muslim, both or neither, we must wake up to the possibility that what we see as problematic for women is much the same whoever and wherever we are. Plastered over billboards, or banished from view, women are subjugated by patriarchy. Demeaning Islam excludes the voices of Islamic women and that liberates no one.
We in the west need to wake up to our own treatment of women.
Our own Christian faith agrees with Ms. Merali's assessment.
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hyprocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:1-5 New King James Version
But the flag has been set down for a time, leaving a gap in the voice for decency and equality regarding the treatment of women. Muslim women have become the standard-bearers for the cause, but the truth is it is a world-wide problem in all cultures no matter the religion involved and whether religion is involved.
A great and wonderful voice is silent today because of the energy spent keeping this cause aloud, alive, and above the horizon where it can be seen. I will endeavor to carry on the cause until she recovers and returns to wave the flag - much higher and with greater inspiration than I can ever hope to. I do this for you, J. And for the cause which is right.
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how to go about this. I have hitherto been lazy, and I've allowed J to work the front lines and face the turmoil and find the articles and pass on the word. Like all followers, I am hardly worthy of the one I follow. So I did a quick search on Google: Women in Islam.
My goal was to try and tap into current events in the Islamic world as they relate to women. The first result was a website called, "Women in Islam". I copied it to my sidebar as a Website of Note. There were several links and I chose to begin with "Women's Rights in Islam". J has taught me that women typically have more rights in Islam (according to the pure interpretation of the Quran) than most anywhere else. But, as has happened in Judaism, Christianity, and who knows how many other places, certain men, for a variety of reasons, have hijacked interpretation and created the hardship which prevails in current understanding.
The first article I read was by Arzu Merali, titled, "They Hate Women, Don't They".
I like the article because it reinforces the truth that we in the west "just don't get it". We're premeditatedly stupid when it comes to other cultures, and blind as bats when it comes to our own.
A couple of excerpts from Ms. Merali's article:
While the gap between Muslims and the west is widening the most striking feature of each other's critiques of their treatment of women is the lack of dissimilarity. Violence, workplace discrimination, educational opportunity and a desire for basic respect from men are universal issues.
Whether we are western, Muslim, both or neither, we must wake up to the possibility that what we see as problematic for women is much the same whoever and wherever we are. Plastered over billboards, or banished from view, women are subjugated by patriarchy. Demeaning Islam excludes the voices of Islamic women and that liberates no one.
We in the west need to wake up to our own treatment of women.
Our own Christian faith agrees with Ms. Merali's assessment.
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hyprocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:1-5 New King James Version
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Confessions For a Friend
A friend of mine recently posted on her blog some defining moments in her life. I was not aware of them and was kind of thrown by her confessions. But confessions is the wrong word. It implies some sort of wrong-doing on her part, when the truth is she did no wrong. These things happened to her, not because of her. There is a big difference.
She encouraged her readers to reveal some defining moment/s in their lives, but I was not able to right off. And as I have pondered some of my defining moments I realized they were not things I should reveal in someone else's comment trail. If I am going to confess them, I must needs confess them openly. I must display the same kind of courage she did. So I am posting.
Well, not the same kind of courage. I'm posting here, where only one person has ever left a comment. And that person is no longer blogging. So I am making my confessions in an empty room. Not so brave after all.
So what were some of the defining moments of my life?
Probably the first was watching my mother's red face as she shouted at me how much she hated me. I hate to say that was a defining moment, but I was no older than five. And it was a scene repeated many times until I finally left home and didn't go back.
For some reason it sticks in my mind that as I was coming up the stairs to the living room where my parents were talking with my maternal grandmother, I heard they were talking about me. I tried to slip back down unnoticed, but still overheard my grandmother saying, "I feel so sorry for Bevie." I have no idea what she was talking about, but after forty years the memory remains vivid.
I remember the first time (and only time, by the way) I asked someone out for a date. I was told to wait for answer. Then I learned that there was a table of about twenty who were laughing at me, led by my intended. I learned this from one of the revelers who saw fit to let me know. Not to be nice, though.
It was a defining moment when I later fell in love, but dared not confess it for fear of another humiliation. It was a defining moment when I changed school for half a year. I met someone who liked me, and we were becoming friends. Then, suddenly, without explanation, I was cast away. All efforts to recommunicate were rebuffed without a word.
When I fell in love with someone older, and then learned I was just a plaything, that was defining. So was the first time I spent the night in a lover's bed. I thought it would be wonderful, but all I felt was guilt. Ultimately, though, that would lead me to God, and an understanding of forgiveness. I can still recall that first night. It was as if I could feel God enter my body. My room was lit as with a glow. I could read my books by it, and often did for that first year.
A few years later I thought I was to be married. I kept us "pure", resisting hints to take advantage of our alone times. Then, my would-be fiance suddenly returned to a previous fiance and was married. I was just a last fling. An amusing toy.
I resolved to keep myself alone. But then someone showed an interest. Having lost someone for "being pure", I willingly gave myself in order to please. The result of that was a reversal of the night I found God. It was as if I could feel him leave, and since that day I have questioned my status with God continually. I leave myself to his mercy and forgiveness. Without that, I am without hope.
This sense of abandonment has made me weak. It has filled me with fear, self-doubt, and even self-loathing at times. It has broken me, possibly beyond repair. I am easily manipulated by those who enjoy such things. I became a willing cyber partner for someone who gave me kind words, as long as I did what I was told. And to hear (read) the words, I did.
My defining moments have not made me stronger. They have brought me ever lower. It is why I write so often of my fear of hypocrisy, for I look at myself and see that I willingly give myself to those who would pretend. For that reason I am terrified when my friends have to leave, for whatever reason. I try not to be afraid, but I can't forget all the times when others, having taken what I willingly gave, decided they needed no more from me and left. Of course now I am both old enough and fat enough that nobody wants anything physical from me. In that regard I am now safe. The fact is, I have nothing to give, except a willingness to accept and love.
My life became lonely because I didn't know how to live it.
I have new friends now, and that may be my greatest defining moment of all. I can give them nothing, yet they still like me. They visit me and they encourage me. They are accepting me for who I am, which is broken. A few have done that in the past, but they were all forced to leave. Stephen was the last. After he left I had no one. Now I have several. It is a defining moment. May God forgive me for being so selfish over it.
But that is why I am a hypocrite. I preach a godly life, but the false promises of love still entice me. I am a weak person. Yet if God can forgive me, he can forgive anybody. And if I can love anybody, I know God loves them more. For I cannot love more than God. So if I tell you I love you, you can know God loves you, too.
So, if you are a broken person. If you find yourself giving in to wrong in the hope of tasting love, remember that God loves you. I know this. For without meeting you, my heart yearns to comfort and help. If I do that, who wallows in low places, how much more God, who is the Spirit of Love?
In honor of you, my friend, I have written this confession of defining moments. I hope I have not said too much. Please forgive me if I have.
She encouraged her readers to reveal some defining moment/s in their lives, but I was not able to right off. And as I have pondered some of my defining moments I realized they were not things I should reveal in someone else's comment trail. If I am going to confess them, I must needs confess them openly. I must display the same kind of courage she did. So I am posting.
Well, not the same kind of courage. I'm posting here, where only one person has ever left a comment. And that person is no longer blogging. So I am making my confessions in an empty room. Not so brave after all.
So what were some of the defining moments of my life?
Probably the first was watching my mother's red face as she shouted at me how much she hated me. I hate to say that was a defining moment, but I was no older than five. And it was a scene repeated many times until I finally left home and didn't go back.
For some reason it sticks in my mind that as I was coming up the stairs to the living room where my parents were talking with my maternal grandmother, I heard they were talking about me. I tried to slip back down unnoticed, but still overheard my grandmother saying, "I feel so sorry for Bevie." I have no idea what she was talking about, but after forty years the memory remains vivid.
I remember the first time (and only time, by the way) I asked someone out for a date. I was told to wait for answer. Then I learned that there was a table of about twenty who were laughing at me, led by my intended. I learned this from one of the revelers who saw fit to let me know. Not to be nice, though.
It was a defining moment when I later fell in love, but dared not confess it for fear of another humiliation. It was a defining moment when I changed school for half a year. I met someone who liked me, and we were becoming friends. Then, suddenly, without explanation, I was cast away. All efforts to recommunicate were rebuffed without a word.
When I fell in love with someone older, and then learned I was just a plaything, that was defining. So was the first time I spent the night in a lover's bed. I thought it would be wonderful, but all I felt was guilt. Ultimately, though, that would lead me to God, and an understanding of forgiveness. I can still recall that first night. It was as if I could feel God enter my body. My room was lit as with a glow. I could read my books by it, and often did for that first year.
A few years later I thought I was to be married. I kept us "pure", resisting hints to take advantage of our alone times. Then, my would-be fiance suddenly returned to a previous fiance and was married. I was just a last fling. An amusing toy.
I resolved to keep myself alone. But then someone showed an interest. Having lost someone for "being pure", I willingly gave myself in order to please. The result of that was a reversal of the night I found God. It was as if I could feel him leave, and since that day I have questioned my status with God continually. I leave myself to his mercy and forgiveness. Without that, I am without hope.
This sense of abandonment has made me weak. It has filled me with fear, self-doubt, and even self-loathing at times. It has broken me, possibly beyond repair. I am easily manipulated by those who enjoy such things. I became a willing cyber partner for someone who gave me kind words, as long as I did what I was told. And to hear (read) the words, I did.
My defining moments have not made me stronger. They have brought me ever lower. It is why I write so often of my fear of hypocrisy, for I look at myself and see that I willingly give myself to those who would pretend. For that reason I am terrified when my friends have to leave, for whatever reason. I try not to be afraid, but I can't forget all the times when others, having taken what I willingly gave, decided they needed no more from me and left. Of course now I am both old enough and fat enough that nobody wants anything physical from me. In that regard I am now safe. The fact is, I have nothing to give, except a willingness to accept and love.
My life became lonely because I didn't know how to live it.
I have new friends now, and that may be my greatest defining moment of all. I can give them nothing, yet they still like me. They visit me and they encourage me. They are accepting me for who I am, which is broken. A few have done that in the past, but they were all forced to leave. Stephen was the last. After he left I had no one. Now I have several. It is a defining moment. May God forgive me for being so selfish over it.
But that is why I am a hypocrite. I preach a godly life, but the false promises of love still entice me. I am a weak person. Yet if God can forgive me, he can forgive anybody. And if I can love anybody, I know God loves them more. For I cannot love more than God. So if I tell you I love you, you can know God loves you, too.
So, if you are a broken person. If you find yourself giving in to wrong in the hope of tasting love, remember that God loves you. I know this. For without meeting you, my heart yearns to comfort and help. If I do that, who wallows in low places, how much more God, who is the Spirit of Love?
In honor of you, my friend, I have written this confession of defining moments. I hope I have not said too much. Please forgive me if I have.
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